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- R. T. VAN VALKENBURG.

GHEMIGAL ENGINE.

No. 413,837. Patented 0613. 29, 1889..

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R. T. VAN VALKE NBURG.

(No Model CHEMICAL ENGINE;

Patented Oct. 29, 1889..

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CHEMICAL ENGINE.

Patented 001:; 29

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ar flall Tva valke hu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

RANDALL T. VAN VALKENBURG, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THEMUSKEGON CHEMICAL FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,837, dated October29,1889.

Application filed June 5, 1889. Serial No. 313,221- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RANDALL T. VAN VA KENBURG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inChemical-Engin es, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements inchemical-engines, intended to form an improvement on Letters Patent No.383,303, granted to me May 29, 1888 and the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement, and combination of different parts, allas more fully hereinafter de scribed, and specifically set forth in theclaims.

In the drawings which accompany this specification and form a partthereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved chemical-engine.Fig. 2 is a plan thereof with the hose-reel removed to show the partsbelow. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. Ais a diagram plan of the mixer,generator, and connections thereof. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinalsection on line X X in Figs. 2 and 4.. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section online Y Yin Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a vertical central section on line Z Z inFig. 2. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line W W in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 isa detached perspectiveview of one of the perforated cups shown in Figs.7 and 8.

All the operating parts of my chemical-engine are mounted upon" a lightand strong frame mounted on two wheels A A on a curved axle B, and asmall wheel C (see Fig. 1) in the center in front of the wheels A Aserves as a front support. The frame is preferably constructed of thelongitudinal bars D, rigidly connected near the front and rear bycrossbars E, with the inner longitudinal bars extended in front andprovided with a suitable draft appliance, such; as the handle-bar F andthe rope-pulley G. The frame is supported on the axle by means ofsprings, such as the C-springs H under the side bars of the frame andthe cross-spring I, which connects the rear ends of the side springs andsupports the frame in thecenter of the rear crossbar of the frame. Theframe thus constructed forms an opening in the center, in which thegenerator J is supported, and two openings on the sides, in which theboxes K K are secured, and which serve to carry the materials forcharging the generator.

The generator forms a closed tank and is suitably constructed towithstand a high degree of pressure, and for this purpose it ispreferably made of cylindrical shape with convex heads, as shown, and issupported upon the frame by means of the lugs a, secured to the sides ofthe generator. Near the rear end thisgenerator is provided with a domeL, which incloses the acidchamber, and the dome is provided with aremovable head L, detachably secured thereto, preferably by means of ascrew-thread engagement, suitable hand-holds L being formed on said headfor conveniently screwing it on and ofi when required to charge the domewith the acid. Into this dome L is fitted a removable cylindrical vesselM, which is provided with one or more vertical ribs M, which engage intocorresponding grooves on the inner face of the dome L, for the purposeof holding the' vessel Min a fixed relation within the dome L andprevent it from rotating therein. On the bottom of this vessel is formeda spider M", which may be formed integral with the ribs M, and whichsupports on a central step M the breaker-shaft M This breaker-shaft isprovided at its lower end with the breakerarms M and passes through astuffing-box M? in the headof the dome, and bears a handle MTforrotating it in its bearings. To the walls of the inner vessel aresecured the openended pockets N, adapted to securely hold theacid-containing bottles 0. The bottom of the vessel M is perforated orprovided with the screen P. v

To the top of the generator are connected two discharge-pipes Q and Q,which are controlled by the valves Q and extend downwardly in front ofthe generator. They connect into the horizontal system of dischargepipesQ andQ which form two distinct outer circuits around theends and sidesof the generator and terminate at the rear end near the center in thecoupling members Q and'Q, to which the fire-hose is adapted to besecured. I preferably connect the two systems of discharge-pipes intoonesingle structure, which IOC forms a four-sided pipe-frame, supportedby brackets b on the four corners upon the cross or the side bars of thesupporting-frame. At difierent places in these discharge-pipes,preferably at the corners, and in the center where the two systems areunited, I place enlarged couplings S, S, and S The couplings S at thefour corners of the frame are preferably cast integral with the bracketsI) and are provided with an opening on top, which is closed by ascrew-cap c, and in this opening is removably secured a cup T, made ofperforated metal or wire screen. In the bottom of this coupling is anopening or drip, which is closed by a suitable drip-plug (Z. Thecouplings S S are similarly constructed to the couplings S, but are madetwice as long and divided in the. center by a partition (2, so as toform a separate chamber for each system of discharge-pipes, and thecoupling S is provided in the same manner as described for the couplingsS with the screw-cap and perforated cup, and the drip at the bottom ofthe chamber with the screw-plug. The coupling members Q and Q areconnected to or formed integral with the coupling S", as shown. Thecoupling S is similarly constructed with the coupling S, except that theopenings on top of the coupling are connected to the discharge-pipes Qand Q, respectively.

Upon the forward part of the frame is supported the mixing tub orcylinder U. This contains an axial shaft journaled in suitable bearingsin the head of the cylinder, and is provided upon one end with the crankU and within the cylinder with the stirringwings U. The top of thecylinder is provided with the opening or hopper U which is closed by asuitable cover U From the bottom of the cylinder a discharge-pipe Vleads into the generator, and this pipe is controlled by a valve V, andits inlet-opening is covered by a screen V. This mixing tub or cylinderis secured above the level of the top of the generator, so that itscontents may be drained into the generator by opening the valve V. It ispreferably inclosed in an outer frame U, by means of which it issupported upon the forward portion of the frame.

A hose-reel IV is suitably supported upon the frame of the machine, andupon it are preferably secured two lines of hose, and from the centralsupport of this hose-reel an arm f extends rearwardly and is provided atits free end with the hinged cap g, which is adapted to engage with thefree end of the lever M A pressure-gage Y, Fig. 1, is attached to anysuitable part of the generator, and to the under side of the generatoris attached the blow-off pipe Z, which is controlled by the blew-offcook or valve Z.

In practice, the parts being constructed and arranged as shown anddescribed, they are intended to operate as follows: A suitable quantityof the carbonate, together with the necessary amount of water forforming a solution, is introduced into the mixing-tub U, and by turningthe crank U a quick solution is effected. From there, by opening thevalve V, the contents are drained into the generator, after which thevalve V is closed. The bottles containing the acid having been preiouslysecured in the pockets N of the acidcontaining vessel, the lever M ofthe breaking device is disengaged from the lockinglatch g. Then, bygiving it a vigorous turn, the breaker-arms M at the lower end of thebreaker-shaft will smash the bottles and allow the liquid to escapethrough the perforated bottom into the generator, all pieces of brokenglass being retained in the vessel M. The generator having now becomecharged, a discharge may be effected by opening either one of the valvesin the dischargepipes Q and Q or by opening both of the valves, asdesired. Thus either one or two streams may be obtained from the engine.The discharge through the discharge-pipe Q follows the system of pipes Qto the outlet Q, and the discharge through the discharge-pipe Q followsthe system of pipes Q to the outlet Q into the flexible hose connectedthereto.

The object of the perforated cups T is to contain some dry carbonate forthe purpose of neutralizing all the acid which may possibly be carried01f from the generator unconsumed, and thereby it not alone increasesthe pressure, but also prevents the waste of acid and its injuriousaction in the dischargepassages and hose. If the material in these cupsbecome spent, they may be readily refilled by unscrewing the cap 0.

.The special advantages of my construction consist in the economicaldisposition of the various parts, in the facility for controlling thegenerator and obtaining one or two streams, the formation of thecircuitous system of discharge, whereby all the acid may be eliminatedfrom the charge, in the peculiar construction of the system ofdischarge-pipes, which forms an element of strength in the construction,in the novel arrangement of the mixing-tub, whereby no time is wasted inpreparing new charges, as a solution maybe readily prepared while thegenerator is discharging, and in the peculiar arrangement for permitting the whole system to be drained and cleaned after use.

By bending the axle downwardly, as shown, the generator may be hung low,and thereby present great stability combined with light draft.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a chemical-engine, thecombination, with the generator, of a quadrilateral system ofdischarge-pipes divided by central partitions and two independentdischarge-pipes connecting each half thereof with the generator,substantially as described.

2. In a chemical-engine, the combination, with the generator, of aquadrilateral system of discharge-pipes divided by central partitions,perforated cups contained in enlarged couplings or sections of saidsystem, and two independent discharge-pipes connecting said .system withthe. generator, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the generator, of a quadrilateral system ofdischarge-pipes provided with the couplings S, S, and S thedividing-partitionse in the couplings S S the hose-connections Q and Qon the coupling S, and thetwo independent discharge-connections Q and Qfrom the generator to the coupling S substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with the generator, of the quadrilateral system ofdischarge-pipes Q and Q the couplings S and S in said sys:

tern, the dividing-partitions e in said couplings, the hose-connectionsQ and Q on the coupling S, the corner-couplings S, and the perforatedcups T, removably secured in the couplings S and S, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a chemical-engine, the combination of the generator, the dome L,provided with the removable head L, theacid-containing vessel M,detachably fitting therein and provided with the ribs M, engagingintogrooves in the cylindrical wall of the dome, the acid-holding pocketsecured to the walls of the vessel M, the breaker shaft M, provided withthe breaker-arms M and the lever M substantially as described.

- 6. In a chemical-engine, the combination of the frame, a generatorsupported therein, the

quadrilateral system of discharge-pipes, the couplingsand'hoseconnections for said pipes,

the. dome on the generator, the perforated bottom, thebreaker and thepockets in said dome, the stirring-tub communicating with the generator,and the stirrer in said tub, the parts being adapted to servesubstantlally as and for the purpose described.

7. Ina chemical-engine, the combination of the frame, the generatorsupported therein, the quadrilateral system of pipes having thecouplings and hose-connections, the stirringtub having the stirrer, thepipe leading from said tub to the generator and having a valve, the domeon the generator, the detachable acid-containing vessel in said tubhaving the pockets and perforated bottom, the breaker in said vessel,and the catch for retaining the breaker, all arranged and adapted tooperate substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a chemical engine, the combination of the frame, the generatorsupported therein, the quadrilateral system of discharge-pipes dividedby central partitions, two independent discharge pipes connecting eachhalf thereof with the generator, the couplings for the said pipes, andthe hose-connections, all substantially as described.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 13th day of March, 1889.

RANDALL 'l. VAN VALKENBURG.

